Gravure Technology
What is Gravure Printing
Modern gravure printing technology was born in the early 20th century.
This history of technological innovation spans over 100 years, not only in packaging and publishing,
but also forming the foundation of today's functional films.
Gravure printing is a method of transferring ink filled in intaglio plates to substrates.
By designing cell capacity and cylinder (plate) depth,
Features of Gravure Printing
High Density / High Definition Printing
Photos and gradations come out beautifully
High Reproducibility
in Mass Production
Color and quality remain stable even in large-volume printing
Fine Pattern
Compatible
Can reproduce fine designs and patterns
Suitable for High-Speed
Continuous Production
Strong in mass production
The strengths of gravure printing are high-definition expression
and quality stability in mass production.
It is a printing method that achieves both beautiful eye-catching packaging
at retail and stable quality mass production.
Versatility of Gravure
From "Gravure Printing" to
"Gravure Coating"
"Another major feature of gravure technology we believe in is its "versatility."
Versatility in gravure technology refers to the ability to create new value by changing materials, plates, formulations, and conditions.
We have evolved from "printing" that reproduces text and patterns to "coating" that applies thin, uniform functional films."
Gravure Printing &
Gravure Coating Technology
- Design
- Release
- Solvent-
free - Antistatic
- Light-
blocking - Matte
- Adhesion-
promoting - Other functions
Mechanism
- STEP01
Fill ink into cylinder (plate) cells
- STEP02
Remove excess ink with doctor blade
- STEP03
Transfer ink to substrate by pressure
- STEP04
Fix ink in drying process
History
Gravure printing is an intaglio printing technology originating from 15th century copper engraving.
In the late 19th century, photographic reproduction became possible with the development of photoengraving technology, and in the early 20th century, it was established as mass production technology through rotating cylinder (plate) conversion.
Subsequently, it became widely used in packaging with the spread of plastic films, and has evolved into surface processing technology for coating film formation and functional enhancement in the functional film field.
Birth of Cylinder (Plate) Gravure
From Flat Intaglio
to Rotating Cylinder (Plate)
Previously, intaglio printing used flat plates such as copper, but by converting to cylindrical cylinders (plates), a technological innovation enabling [continuous], [high-speed], and [long-length] printing was born. This became the prototype of today's roll-to-roll manufacturing and developed into mass production technology for publishing and packaging.
Mid-19thCentury
Early20thCentury
Establishment
of Doctor Blade Method
The doctor blade scrapes excess ink from the cylinder (plate) surface, leaving only the ink in the cells. The establishment of this method improved print density reproducibility and enabled film thickness-controlled printing.
Development of Drying
and Solvent Ink Technology
To enable high-speed rotary printing, low-viscosity inks and solvent drying equipment were developed. An ink system suitable for film printing was born.
First Half of20thCentury
Early to
mid-20thCentury
Establishment of Multi-Color Continuous Printing
By arranging multiple cylinders (plates), [multi-colorization], [improved registration accuracy], and [improved design freedom] were achieved, making it the main player in publishing and packaging fields.
Fujiko's gravure printing technology achieves
beautiful reproducibility and stable quality in mass production
through long-cultivated technology and equipment.
Applying the reproducibility and stability we have honed to functional film products,
we continue to provide our technology to various industries and fields.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is prototyping available?
We also handle small lots and prototype evaluations. Please consult with us from the development stage.
Is combination with coating possible?
Yes, we can provide integrated services for printing, coating, and finishing.
Can materials such as substrates, inks, and coatings be specified?
If our equipment can accommodate it, material specification is also possible. Please feel free to consult with us.
About Integrated Technology
Applying gravure printing technology, we also perform custom release film/paper printing and functional coating.
